Text of the Indictment Against Leon Czolgosz

Accused of the Wilful Murder of William McKinley on Sept. 6, 1901, in the City of Buffalo.

     The Grand Jury of the County of Erie by this indictment accuse Leon F. Czolgosz, alias Fred Nieman, of the crime of murder in the first degree, committed as follows, to wit:
     That the said Leon F. Czolgosz, alias Fred Nieman, on the 6th day of September, in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and one, at the City of Buffalo in the County of Erie, with force and arms in and upon one, William McKinley in the peace of the people of the State of New York then and there being, wilfully, feloniously and from a deliberate and premeditated design to effect the death of the said William McKinley did make an assault and the said Leon F. Czolgosz, alias Fred Nieman, then and there wilfully, feloniously and from a deliberate and premeditated design to effect the death of the said William McKinley did shoot off and discharge to, at, against and upon the said William McKinley a certain pistol and firearm then and there charged and loaded with gunpowder and leaden bullets, and the said Leon F. Czolgosz, alias Fred Nieman, with the leaden bullets aforesaid out of the pistol and firearm aforesaid then and there, by force of the gunpowder aforesaid shot off, sent forth and discharged him, the said William McKinley then and there, feloniously, wilfully and with a deliberate and premeditated design to effect the death of the said William McKinley, did strike, penetrate and wound, giving unto him, the said William McKinley, then and there with the leaden bullets aforesaid so as aforesaid discharged, sent forth and shot out of the pistol and firearm aforesaid by the said Leon F. Czolgosz, alias Fred Nieman, in and upon the stomach, abdomen and body of the said William McKinley one mortal wound of which said mortal wound he, the said William McKinley, from the said sixth day of September in the year aforesaid until the 14th day of September in the same year aforesaid, at the City and County aforesaid, did languish and languishing did live; on which said last mentioned day he, the said William McKinley, at the City and County aforesaid, of the said mortal wound did die, contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided, and against the peace of the people of the State of New York and their dignity.
     SECOND COUNT.—And the Grand Jury of the County of Erie aforesaid by this indictment, do further accuse the said Leon F. Czolgosz, alias Fred Nieman, of the crime of murder in the first degree, committed as follows, to wit:
     That on the 6th day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and one at the city of Buffalo and in the County of Erie, the said Leon F. Czolgosz, alias Fred Nieman, in and upon the body of one William McKinley in the peace of the people of the State of New York then and there being wilfully, feloniously and of his malice aforethought, did make an assault and a certain pistol then and there charged with gunpowder and one leaden bullet which he, the said Leon F. Czolgosz, alias Fred Nieman, in his right hand then and there had and held to, at, against and upon the said William McKinley then and there wilfully, feloniously and of his malice aforethought did shoot off and discharge and the said Leon F. Czolgosz, alias Fred Nieman, with the leaden bullet aforesaid out of the pistol aforesaid then and there by force of the gunpowder aforesaid shot off, sent forth and discharged as aforesaid him, the said William McKinley in and upon the stomach, abdomen and body of him, the said William McKinley then and there wilfully, feloniously and of his malice aforethought did strike, penetrate and wound giving unto him the said William McKinley then and there with the leaden bullet aforesaid so as aforesaid discharge sent forth and shot out of the pistol aforesaid in and upon the stomach, abdomen and body of him, the said William McKinley, one mortal wound of which mortal wound, he, the said William McKinley, from the said 6th day of September in the year aforesaid until the 14th say of September in the same year aforesaid, at the city and county aforesaid, did languish and languishing did live; on which said last mentioned day he, the said William McKinley at the city and county aforesaid of the said mortal wound did die.
     And so the Grand Jury aforesaid do say that the said Leon F. Czolgosz, alias Fred Nieman, him the said William McKinley in the manner and form and by the means aforesaid wilfully, feloniously and of his malice aforethought did kill and murder against the form of the statute in such case made and provided and against the peace of the people of the State of New York and their dignity.

THOMAS PENNEY,     
District Attorney, Erie County.